Kittel looking like gold standard

German cyclist overtaking Cavendish as Tour's fastest

Associated Press

Published 10:05 pm, Thursday, July 11, 2013

Photo: Bryn Lennon

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TOURS, FRANCE - JULY 11: Marcel Kittel (R) of Germany and team Argos-Shimano beats Mark Cavendish of Great Britain and Omega Pharma-Quickstep to the finish line during stage twelve of the 2013 Tour de France, a 218KM road stage from Fougeres to Tours, on July 11, 2013 in Tours, France. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) *** BESTPIX *** ORG XMIT: 168873378 less

TOURS, FRANCE - JULY 11: Marcel Kittel (R) of Germany and team Argos-Shimano beats Mark Cavendish of Great Britain and Omega Pharma-Quickstep to the finish line during stage twelve of the 2013 Tour de France, a ... more

Everything was primed on Thursday for Cavendish to win a 25th Tour stage in his illustrious career. His beefy teammate from Belgium, Gert Steegmans, did his job to perfection, guiding Cavendish into position for the final sprint to the line in Tours in the Loire valley.

But Cavendish wasn't quick enough. Kittel overtook him just before the line. The winning margin was mere inches.

"He was just simply faster," Cavendish conceded. "I can go back and look over and over again. I don't think myself or the team could have done anything different. He was just simply better, you know?"

It would be foolish and premature to suggest the Cavendish era at the Tour is ending. He is still by far the most successful stage winner still active.

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Two of the riders with more stage wins — Bernard Hinault (28) and Eddy Merckx (34) — are long retired. The third, Andre Leducq (25), died in 1980. Cavendish came to this Tour with 23, the number is written in green on the black bike he rode Thursday.

He won his 24th last week in Marseille and could still get to 25 and match Leducq's total at this Tour. The last stage, especially, on the Champs-Elysees in Paris almost always offers a golden opportunity for sprinters. Cavendish is unbeaten on those cobblestones since 2009.